2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Dodge has a new Ram 2500 Power Wagon.  You haven’t heard about the Power Wagon?  Maybe if you are in the senior side of the age spectrum and like trucks, especially military vehicles, you might recognize the name.  But this terrific Hemi-powered crew cab is a workhorse built for today’s usage. The Power Wagon name was used in the 40’s and 50’s on some military truck chassis.  Dodge made a lot of vehicles for the Army in those days.  A lot of the trucks were still being used at Army Reserve and National Guard centers into the mid-60’s.

      The Viet-Nam buildup produced newer and more modern vehicles for the military.  But the name “Power Wagon” still had a familiar ring to it and denoted capability above the ordinary.  This new 2010 model, just introduced by Dodge, proudly wears the historic name badge.
It was called Inferno Red Crystal Pearl.  That’s the name given the exterior paint job of the weeklong test model I was privileged to drive.  The interior was trimmed out in Dark Slate and Medium Graystone colors and was very attractive.  What a great week of driving.  I only wished for several more weeks to try out all the unique abilities and versatility of this big truck. 

Heavy Duty pickups are becoming more and more popular with the buying public as their capabilities continue to be discovered.  The ¾ and 1-ton class is becoming tight.  Ford’s F-series, GMC’s Sierra, and Chevy’s Silverado are major contenders and very worthy competitors.  Those heavy-duty trucks are all very good and none of them are below consideration.  This Dodge Ram Power Wagon is somewhat like Ford’s Raptor.  It has some unique features that deserve a second and third look.

The 2010 Dodge Ram heavy duty pickups feature either the 5.7 liter Hemi engine or the 6.7 liter Cummins Turbo Diesel.  The Power Wagon only offers the 5.7 liter Hemi V-8, which is matched to a five speed automatic transmission.  It feeds power through a set of 4.56 gears in the rear axle, has electric locking front and rear differentials, special springs, and an electric front sway bar disconnect.  The Power Wagon rides on large All-Terrain tires and with underbody skid plates and that great suspension can go almost anywhere and do almost anything.  It is even equipped with a 12,000 lb winch and a 90-foot cable in the front end.  The control unit for the winch was located in the center console of my test model.

Dodge put new front ends on the 1500 Ram in 2009 and have now added those new front ends to the heavy duty 2500 and 3500 models in 2010.  So, the new Power Wagon has good aerodynamic features, which was a big reason for the new Ram front ends.  It is only offered in a full crew cab body style.  It looks big and almost imposing to other trucks because it is big.

The Dodge Ram Power Wagon, in spite of its large size, is easy to drive.  Climbing up into the cab was a little difficult for my wife Judy and I.  Running boards for stepping would have been nice.   Once inside and behind the wheel, she took to the driving without a problem.  Even negotiating parking spaces at a crowded city mall was not too difficult.  On the highway, it almost glides, even though this truck is built more for off-road use.  During the week’s test drive, I put the Power Wagon to a small test, towing a loaded horse trailer on the highway as well as some challenging sandy off-road areas.  It never even whimpered.  The Power Wagon is definitely one of the most capable factory-equipped off-road pickups on the market.

It is easy to spot a Power Wagon from a regular Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickup.  That is because of the big letters on the rear tailgate that spell out “Power Wagon.”  Also, there is lettering on both sides of the hood.  And of course, there is winch integrated into the front bumper.
Dodge has promoted their Ram 1500 as getting great fuel mileage, as has most manufacturers promoting their standard-size pickups.  But this Ram 2500 Power Wagon was not designed for everyday commuting.  It can carry a lot of heavy cargo, tow heavy loads, and go almost anywhere.  That all adds to making more of a fuel-guzzler rather than a fuel-sipper.  During the week’s test drive, my mileage averaged about 14-15 mpg and the tank is big.  A fill-up drained the pocket of cash.  The MSRP of the Power Wagon is $38,480.  The test model included a few extras such as a Nav system, improved sound system with SIRIUS traffic information, Rear Park assist, and a lot more.  Bottom sticker price, including delivery, was $49,595.

The week’s test drive was enjoyable.  There is no question that this is a truck that is capable and utilitarian, but it is also fun to drive.  I think wearing that historic name badge of “Power Wagon” is well deserved.  The Power Wagons have just been distributed to dealerships in September, so check it out yourself at a Chrysler-Dodge dealership.